Productive Apps For Mac
And while this list focuses specifically on macOS apps, many of the apps on this list are cross-platform and appear on our list of best productivity apps for Windows, Android, iPhone, and/or iPad as well (along with other recommended productivity apps for those OSes). Native Platforms: Web, Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iOS, Android Wear Pricing: starting at $9.99/user per month Trello lets you organize your team and task- using different boards and is one of the free productivity apps out there that can simplify your work for you. The app is best for visual learners as it organizes all the deadlines, tasks, projects, to-do-lists onto Trello cards. There are a bunch of great apps you can install on your Mac—no question there. Separating amazing apps from must-have apps is the hard part, and we don’t want you to spend hours analyzing the.
Making the most of the time you spend on your Mac is important – but maintaining focus and high productivity levels is always a challenge (especially when you discover Mac’s hidden built-in games and other wonders this system has to offer).
So, here are the 20 best productivity apps for Mac to help you focus on your work more and procrastinate less:
- Clockify – time tracker and timesheet app
- MindNode – visual brainstorming app
- Keyboard Maestro – automation app
- White Noise Lite – noise generator
- SunsetScreen – screen adjuster
- Microsoft OneNote – note-taking app
- Descript – media word processor
- Dashlane – password manager
- Wunderlist – task manager
- Backblaze – backup and storage service
- Skitch – visual communicating app
- Bartender – declutter app
- Station – chat organizer
- Movavi – screen recorder studio
- Inkscape – vector graphics software
- Cold Turkey – website blocker
- DropZone – organizing app
- Reader – RSS reader app
- Redmine – project manager and issue tracker
- Airtable – collaboration service
1. Clockify – time tracker and timesheet app
Clockify is a free time tracker and timesheet app that lets you track time while working on tasks, or manually log the time you’ve spent on tasks. It’s perfect if you need an easy way to track billable hours for payroll or track how productive you really are at work.
Clockify for Mac lets you track time you spend on your activities directly from your desktop, and you can associate your time entries with the right projects, tasks, tags, and billability status, for easier management.
You can then log in to your Clockify web account in order to:
- run reports based on the time you’ve tracked
- manage your projects
- have your tracked billable hours calculated automatically, based on your selected hourly rate
The highlights of the Mac app include idle time detection and the chance to implement the famed Pomodoro technique. You start the Pomodoro timer when you start working on a task – after the time period you’ve set yourself passes, you get a notification reminding you to take a short break from work to recharge.
2. MindNode – visual brainstorming app
MindNode is a great app to help you segregate your brainstorming thoughts into a comprehensive view – one where all related thoughts are grouped together.
When you open the app, simply create the topic you want to brainstorm ideas for (e.g. “Core Travel App features”), and start adding ideas (e.g. “City Sites Overview”, “Hotel list”, “Restaurant Guide”, etc.).
The more branches you add to the original topic, the more your tree will grow, and the more inspired you’ll get – later on, you’ll be able to rearrange branches, delete them, add sub-branches, and otherwise manage your thoughts and ideas.
The newest release of the app has introduced Top-Down-Layout and orthogonal branches, so you can really streamline your thoughts in the way you see fit.
3. Keyboard Maestro – automation app
Keyboard Maestro is a closed-source automation app meant to help you perform a variety of tasks, such as launching and quitting apps, as well as switching from app to app via keyboard shortcuts.
The main purpose of this app is to help you record, set, design, and activate your custom keyboard shortcuts (“macros”), in order to navigate your Mac easier.
Apart from that, you’ll also be able to use various additional features:
- The Clipboard Switcher, which allows you to manage an unlimited number of clipboards
- TheClipboard History Switcher, which lets you manage your clipboard history
- The Application Switcher, which allows you to easily navigate across various apps
- The Window Switcher, which helps you easily navigate across various windows
In essence, just like AutoHotkey saves time for Windows users, Keyboard Maestro helps Mac users save time by automating a lot of repetitive processes.
4. White Noise Lite – noise generator
White Noise Lite is a noise generator meant to help you stay focused on whatever you’re doing – with the help of 50 HD ambient sounds. Simply, select an ambient sound, put on your headphones, and block out all unwanted noise.
The ambient sounds you can choose from include (but are not limited to):
- Nature sounds such as babbling brooks, crashing waves, crackling fire, pouring rain (on various surfaces)
- Animals sounds, such as cat purring, frog ribbiting, birds singing
- House appliances noise, for a bathroom fan, clock, vacuum cleaner, hair dryer, dishwasher machine
- Colored noise, such as violet noise, pink noise, gray noise, brown noise
All sounds are followed by a slideshow of beautiful images, and the app’s interface allows you to choose your favorite sounds by swiping towards them.
White Noise Lite offers a number of great features, and the highlights include custom playlists, and wake up alarms that slowly fade (so that you wake up relaxed, and not abruptly).
5. SunsetScreen – screen adjuster
SunsetScreen helps you work longer in a quality way – by automatically adjusting the brightness and tone of your screen according to the time of day (or night). You’ll reduce eye strain, and be able to work longer, without fearing you’ll disrupt your sleeping patterns (which usually happens when you stare at a bright screen during the night).
This app offers several adjusting features that help you streamline your screen – you can define your sunrise time, set your own day and night colors, and determine how long the gradual transition between phases will last.
One interesting feature is that you can choose the current colors and tones for your screen from a list – depending on your preferences, you can instruct your screen colors to mimic any color temperature, from soothing candlelight (1850k, suitable for night) to energizing bright daylight (6500k, suitable for peak work hours).
6. Microsoft OneNote – note-taking app
Microsoft OneNote is an effective note-taking system that lets you capture your thoughts and ideas, as well as improve your planning, by turning these ideas and thoughts into actionable steps in a digital notebook.
To take a note, all you have to do is start typing on the free form canvas and later rearrange and style your notes in any way you want. You can store all the information about your projects, research topics, events you’re planning, or topics you’re interested in, in one secure place.
The special highlight of this app is that it lets you neatly organize all your data – you’ll get a separate notebook with its own tabs for each new topic/project/event you add.
Bonus points for Microsoft OneNote also go to its installation process – if you have Microsoft Office 2016, chances are you already have this app installed on your Mac.
7. Descript – media word processor
Microsoft OneNote is perfect if you like to write down your thoughts and Descript is perfect if you prefer to dictate your thoughts and have them recorded automatically.
With this app, you don’t always have to dictate the text yourself – instead, you can record the audio first, play it, and then have Descript make a transcript. Later, you can edit the text, rearrange it, or simply delete parts you don’t need.
The app can recognize both audio and video, and you’ll also be able to share your finished transcripts with others in just a few clicks.
In the end, this app may prove especially useful for those who need to transcribe videos or podcasts. Simply, turn on Descript and play the video or podcast to have every word easily translated to text form.
8. Dashlane – password manager
Dashlane is a password manager and secure digital vault where you can store and safeguard your passwords and personal information.
You’ll be able to automatically save and enter passwords to any app account, instead of typing them manually every time. You’ll also be able to store other personal and sensitive information such as credit card numbers, which proves useful in speeding up online shopping.
This app also stands out because it lets you generate unique complex passwords at any time – in case you have trouble thinking up of elaborate, hard-to-crack passwords each time you open any new account.
Another highlight is that you can also choose to share your passwords with select people – which is perfect if you have a Netflix account you share with friends or family members.
9. Wunderlist – task manager
Wunderlist is a free cloud-based task manager that lets you plan, share, and manage all your errands in one app. You can set reminders and recurring tasks, capture your to-dos in a straightforward agenda, and otherwise manage your projects and tasks within one great app.
Wunderlist is also useful if you frequently need to collaborate with others – you’ll get a chance to share to-do lists with colleagues, and then assign them with tasks (or have tasks assigned to you).
The highlight of this app is that it lets you easily save any information you come across while browsing the web or your other Mac apps.
Clockify pro tip
Track time on Wunderlist to-dos easily with Clockify-Wunderlist integration. Later, review timesheets and export reports in Clockify app.
10. Backblaze – backup and storage service
Backblaze is the ultimate online backup service – perfect if you want to make sure you don’t lose important documents due to a system crash or a malfunction in your antivirus program.
Whatever you need storing, be it personal data, such as family photos, or business data, such as your project archive, you’ll be able to securely store it online with the right plan (Personal Backup plan or Business Backup plan).
If you’re a developer, you’ll also be able to build a custom storage unit (B2 Cloud Storage plan) and have it fit your specific needs.
Backblaze’s highlight feature comes from its Personal Backup plan – if your Mac gets lost or stolen, you’ll be in a position to locate it, and have the hardware (with all your precious stored data) shipped directly to you.
11. Skitch – visual communicating app
Skitch is an effective free communication tool meant to help you get your points across faster – you’ll be able to explain your thoughts visually, through shapes, sketches, and carefully placed annotations.
You’ll get the chance quickly create diagrams and markups, annotate photos, as well as highlight changes you make on PDF documents, before sharing them directly from the app.
Considering that Skitch is an Evernote product, you’ll also be able to save your annotated documents to Evernote’s note-taking system, and then manage them there.
12. Bartender – declutter app
Bartender is an effective declutter app (currently in its third version) – you’ll no longer have to browse through the seemingly endless list of browser tabs, to find what’s really important.
This app helps you organize, rearrange, or simply hide the large number of browser tabs or apps you open during the day – in the aptly named Bartender Bar. When you wish to view hidden items again, you can do that easily by using the right keyboard shortcut.
Most importantly, hidden items remain active, whether they’re updating or managing a task – they’ll reappear as soon as they’re updated so you can be sure you won’t miss anything important.
13. Station – chat organizer
Station is a chat organizing app that lets you group, sort, and access all other apps that you use from one comprehensible view – as its tagline wittily says, it’s “one app to rule them all” and it really seems so.
You’ll have all your pages automatically grouped by app, and easily find what you need at any time – to extend on that point, the Recent Documents features lets you switch between recently used apps, to help you concentrate on what you’re currently working on.
The highlight of this app is its focus mode – you’ll be able to decide when you want to work on a particular app (and ignore all others), so you’ll only be getting notifications associated with your selected app.
14. Movavi – screen recorder studio
Movavi Screen Recorder Studio is perfect for any Mac user working with videos – with Movavi, you can capture screens and edit videos in a fast and efficient way.
Essentially, this member of the Movavi family of multimedia programs lets you capture live streams, as well as record everything that goes on on your desktop or apps.
All you need to do is select the capture area you need on the screen, connect a microphone (if you also want to record a voiceover), and set additional parameters (volume level, frame rate, etc.), and you’re ready to go.
Later on, you can edit or remove footage, add captions, filters, and special effects, or even add background music.
In the end, you can export your videos as various formats (MP4 and AVI included), or share it – if you want to be extra fast and efficient while saving your videos, you can work in the SuperSpeed mode.
15. Inkscape – vector graphics software
Inkscape is a free open-source vector graphics software that lets you create or edit illustrations, diagrams, charts, logos, or whatever vector graphic you need to draw – which makes it perfect for Mac users who work on graphic designs.
You’ll be able to easily create shapes, define layers, add text, add embedded bitmaps, distribute, clone, and align objects (either as a group or separately). Later on, you’ll also be able to export your work in various formats.
One of the highlights of this app is that it’s community-oriented and transparent – developers can go through released builds, track changes and updates, but also take a look at the source code.
Another highlight of the app are its tooltips and hints – all buttons and commands have their own hints for best use that pop up occasionally, but also update with new content.
16. Cold Turkey – website blocker
Cold Turkey is a focus app that helps you block out time-consuming digital systems that distract you from your work – and given that we waste about 3 years of our lives on Social Media alone (not to mention other distractions), you probably need it.
As its name suggests, Cold Turkey helps you go cold turkey on your Mac – it lets you block websites, apps, the Internet, or even your computer.
So, for example, each time you block a website (and then try to enter it despite your better judgment), you’ll get an inspirational quote to remind you that you should be working instead.
You can also take a less strict and path and simply limit distractions, by creating whitelists for websites you still want to enter freely.
A great feature of this app is that it lets you block only specific pages of a website – for example, if you’re a Social Media Manager who needs to use Facebook, but wants to avoid a few select pages, you can block only these specific pages.
17. DropZone – organizing app
DropZone is perfect if you want to save and access file uploads in a few clicks. This open-source library operates on a simple drag & drop system that lets you easily upload and manage your priority documents from one place.
This app is meant for Mac users who prefer a no-fuss approach to storing current priority documents, so the default interface is as simple and straightforward as possible. But, if you want your mini-storage unit to look sleek and attractive like the one in the screenshot, you can make it happen through dropzone.css.
DropZone’s highlight feature is chunked uploads – you’ll be able to drag & drop your files in larger chunks, for even an even faster workflow.
18. Reader – RSS reader app
Reader is perfect for all Mac users who enjoy reading RSS services on their device – this free app lets you read through the most current news reading services in a modern and attractive interface.
You’ll get a chance to read news from Feedbin, Feedly, FeedHQ, NewsBlur, Inoreader, and other popular RSS services – you can even view some of the listed news services side by side at the same time.
The bonus points for this reading app go to its sharing options – you’ll be able to share interesting tidbits you come across in the news via Facebook, Twitter, Evernote, Pocket, Instapaper, and other popular hot spots.
19. Redmine – project manager and issue tracker
Redmine is an open-source project management and issue tracking tool meant to help software developers track the development of their projects.
You can manage multiple projects at the same time, create sub-projects, keep an eye on deadlines in a comprehensive calendar view, as well as track your progress and manage reports within Gantt charts.
Considering it’s open-source, Redmine is another one of those apps that has a special allure to developers looking for a customizable app – once again, they can view and change the code to fit their specific needs.
Clockify pro tip
Easily track time on Redmine issues, view dashboard, and export reports via Clockify integration for Redmine.
20. Airtable – collaboration service
Airtable is a cloud collaboration service that has the form of a spreadsheet – simply select your preferred project template and then customize your team’s workflow from there.
The available project templates include:
- Creative Teams and Agencies Template
- Marketing and Communications Template
- Product and User Experience Template
- Traditional Project Management Template
You’ll be able to follow your work in a Grid, and track the progress of your team’s workload in a drag & drop Kanban interface. There’s also a Gallery section of the app which acts as database storage – so you and your team can always add and manage files you’re currently working on.
The Calendar view of the tasks is especially nice in this app – you can visually expand your tasks from the day you’ve started working on them, to the day they’re due (like in a Gantt chart).
Best productivity apps guarantee best working environment! Have you ever thought how much time do you waste on typing and clicking, organizing files, and trying to find the date? It’s time to put your laptop to work with this list of 15 best productivity apps for Mac.
Best Mac Productivity Apps
Sometimes you don’t need full-screen apps with lots of features to improve your productivity. Instead, have a look at these small tools that do one-two things and make your life easier.
1. Krisp
One of the biggest enemies of every good conference call is background noise. However, there’s a solution for that too.
Krisp is an easy-to-use but powerful app that recognizes your voice and separates it from extraneous noise next to you, leaving only your clean voice. It’s one of the best productivity apps for Mac that can help you to have better conference calls. You can work from any place that’s convenient for you and don’t worry about the crying baby or airport announcement in the background. Krisp also launched on Appsumo Deals.
Price: free
2. Magnet
To be productive means having an organized workplace. Magnet app does exactly that – organizes the space on your desktop. This small app allows you to drag windows to show two, three, or four apps side-by-side.
Having multiple windows side by side eliminates the neebad for app switching and enhances your multitasking. Organize your workspace and seamlessly copy the text from one window and paste it into the second one. You can also customize the shortcuts for the app for maximum efficiency.
Price: $1.19
3. Itsycal
Have you ever wondered why your Mac doesn’t show full date on menubar? We have. While we don’t know the exact reason why Mac doesn’t support this function natively, we’ve found a good solution with this nice productivity app.
Itsycal adds a small calendar on your menubar. With it you can always have a brief glance at the whole month, week, your day and even appointments. It integrates with your macOS calendar and reminders, and you can modify the appearance if you wish too.
Price: Free
4. Flux
Sometimes you have to work during night or in place with bad lighting. For these situations use Flux – productivity app for Mac that changes the brightness and color temperature of your display. It matches them with the time of the day, so you call work better and feel less tired.
Price: Free
5. SelfControl
If you can’t resist the urge to check your Facebook, Twitter or any other website you stick for hours – this tool is for you. SelfControl app helps us to save us from meaningless waste of time of these websites.
Simply add the websites which distract you from your work, set the timer and turn it on. The app will block the mentioned sites for the specified time.
The best part is that even if you reboot your Mac, you can’t turn off the application until the timer’s up. So if your “selfcontrol” is not enough, use this small tool to be more productive with your time.
Price: Free
Best Mac Productivity Apps – Useful Tools
1. OmniFocus 3
This productivity app is all about managing your tasks. OmniFocus has a clean interface and every feature you need to get stuff done. And its sleek design is simply a perfect match for your Mac.
Add all your projects, to-do lists into OmniFocus and track all details like dates, notes, files attachments. Also you can easily synchronize between your iPhone or iPad. Free up your mind from storing all your tasks and enemies of every good conference call.
2. Bear
One of mac productivity apps in this list is called Bear. It’s a beautiful and flexible note-taking app. It has all functions that you’ve wished the pre-installed Notes on Mac would had.
With Bear it’s super easy to jot down your notes on the go. Write prose and outlines, create to-do lists and reminders for yourself, and many more. The best part is that many functions of Bear are free and you can enjoy all the perks without spending much.
Price: Free ($1.49 monthly)
3. CleanMyMac X
CleanMyMac is a lifesaver for your Mac. It combines many optimization tools in single app. Monitor the performance, remove malware and clean up your macOS.
This is a must-have app for any Mac user if you want your device to be healthy. And you want it, right?
Price: One year subscription costs $49.95
4. Alfred
Alfred brings productivity to your fingerprints! This app for macOS boosts your efficiency by helping you search your computer and web with great speed.
You can use Alfred for multiple things. It allows you to open things, search for things, define and time them, easily calculate things and expand tests, contact people and manage clipboard and so much more. Definitely give Alfred a try and experience its possibilities.
Price: Free
5. 1Password
Have you ever forgotten your password? Now you really forget your passwords as 1Password will remember all of them for you. Using 1Password is super simple: just save your passwords and login to websites with a single click.
Besides, if you often have a hard time thinking of new and unique passwords – worry no more. 1Passwords has your back and it will create a strong password instead of you and sync between your devices.
Price: $2.99 monthly
Best Mac productivity apps – Utilities
1. Bartender 3
Have you ever wanted to organize the apps on menu bar? Now you can!
With Bartender 2 you can easily rearrange apps on your menu bar, hide them and even move to separate Bartender Bar. Give it a try and find out multiple variations of your menu bar.
Price: $15
2. AppCleaner
This small productivity app allows you to safely uninstall unwanted apps from your computer. As you know any time you install an application dozens of files are distributed throughout your System. Besides taking up much space, they leave traces which are hard to find with custom tools.
That’s why you need AppCleaner to clean up the mess and delete all traces of unwanted apps from your device.
Price: Free
3. Things
You definitely have a lot of things, right? Add one more “thing” to your list – Things app. This is a small and easy-to-use task manager which makes you truly productive.
If you’re tired of all big apps with dozens of features (most of which you don’t need), then Things is your choice. Give it a try!
Price: $49.99
4. MalwareBytes
Don’t believe people who say that you don’t need a anti-malware program on your Mac. While, there might not be a need for heavy-weight and cumbersome applications, Malware Bytes is all you need.
Malwarebytes Anti-Malware scans your computer, finds and removes code that lowers system performance or destroys your system. If your Mac is running slow and annoying adware and pop-ups keep coming, definitely install this app and revive your Mac.
Price: Free
5. Gemini 2
Sometimes you can’t find the exact file you need, but often times it turns out you have multiples of the same file. Finding and removing every duplicate file seems like a redundant task. That’s what Gemini is for!
Forget about the problem of duplicate files with Gemini. It spots duplicates and similar files, sees how they’re different and deletes the ones you don’t need. Gemini is smart and it learns all the time to improve the process. Sounds amazing, right? Get yourself mac productivity apps like Gemini and free up tons of space on your Mac.
Price: Free
Mac Productivity Apps Bonus: Email Analytics
This app is one of those mac productivity apps that will help you keep in track of and visualize your team’s email activity. It is private and secure and will let you to monitor and measure the email productivity of your team and other employees.
Email Analytics provides an opportunity to segment the teams which you need to monitor, and compare their analytics data to rule out the top performing members. You can see the analytics in real-time and the reports are updated frequently to ensure you get the most precise results.
This is great for boosting your and your team’s productivity in the long run, so give it a try on your Mac. There’s a 14 day trial after which you will have to pay $15 per mailbox a month.
Productive Apps For Mac Download
By now you should already have your Mac ready to took off and allow you to be your most productive self. Let us know in the comments which Mac app is your favorite!